Author’s POV
Lucien’s car stopped in front of the huge villa where Sera had just gone in with her brother and Emma. She was still lost in the beauty of it all, already picturing how she’d decorate it in her own style, which she had never had the chance to do in her past life.
Back then, even if she wanted to change sothing, she had no right to do that! After all, she never had a ho.
Or if she had... she couldn’t rember it. She couldn’t tell anymore.
Sera was still exploring the house with Emma, her bare feet brushing against the cool floor, when she wandered onto the balcony. The view below was quiet until a car rolled to a stop at the porch.
"Looks like your brother hitched a ride here," Asher’s voice ca from behind, casual but sharp as always.
"Brother," Sera said softly, turning to look at him. "Please... don’t be angry at Brother Alistair." She already recognized the car and knew exactly who had brought him here.
"Why would I be angry with him..." Asher began, but the rest of his words faded the mont his gaze shifted toward the porch. The door of the car opened, and Lucien stepped out.
Seraphina’s POV
"What the hell is he doing here!" Asher’s voice echoed with full of fury, but he stopped himself abruptly when his eyes t mine. His jaw tightened, the muscle in it twitching. He inhaled through his nose, slowly, then stepped in front of , closing the space until I could feel the heat radiating off him. His hand held mine so softly but possessively.
"Sera," he murmured. His voice was so slow that it made my skin crawl. "I’ve barely co back to my senses and got you back in my life... I haven’t even begun to dote on you the way I should’ve. And now..." His eyes dragged past toward the figure by the car, before cutting back, sharply and coldly.
"Seeing you lean toward that man... looking at him like that... It—it twists sothing ugly in . It makes my hands itch. Makes want to smash his face in until he forgets his own na... until his existence is no longer present in this world.
His thumb brushed over my knuckles tenderly. But his words were full of warning. "You’ve no idea how easy it would be for to make him disappear, Sera. No one would even think to look for him."
The air between us felt heavy, pressing against my ribs. I wanted to pull my hand back, but a part of who was scared of this side of Asher stayed still in its place.
No one knew Asher better than I did. He had always been ruthless when it ca to . He was so rciless in a way that made even my enemies flinch.
Even when we were broke, he never let a single insult touch . If he found out I’d been bullied, he’d co for them in silence and unrelentingly, and wouldn’t stop until they wished they’d never crossed , and killing people was not that hard for him.
I knew that was who he was... and yet, a part of had always wished he would change, that he’d soften a little. Find a wife and build a life that didn’t reek of blood and threats.
But right now... with that shadow in his eyes and the dangerous air around him... I was still afraid of this side of Asher.
I was still thinking what to say and how to soothe his burning emotions when a voice cut through the tension, only to build more!
"I’d like to see you try."
Lucien.
He stood at the edge of the balcony’s entrance with Alistair. He looked too calm in a way that made my skin prickle. His eyes were locked on Asher, unreadably, but there was the faintest curve to his lips as if he didn’t care about his threats at all.
Asher didn’t move at first. His grip on my hand tightened, just enough for Lucien to notice. Then he turned.
"You think I’m bluffing?"
Lucien’s smirk grew bigger, but his gaze stayed cold. "No. I think you’re desperate."
The word sliced through the air, and for a mont, it felt like they were brewing a huge storm, and I was trapped in it.
"What the hell!" The words burst out of , but before I could do anything, Emma shoved herself between us.
"What’s wrong with you all?" she snapped, looking from one man to the other. "This is supposed to be Sera’s ti to breathe... to be free from those toxic people... and here you are bringing your own toxicity into this house."
"I—" Asher’s voice faltered. His eyes flicked to , then down to where his hand still held mine. He let go, slowly and reluctantly. "I’m sorry... I didn’t an to—" He glanced at Lucien but stopped himself from saying anything.
"Chill, guys!" Alistair chid in, helping to lighten the atmosphere. "Let’s just enjoy ourselves for now. Later..." His smirk twisted. "We’ll see who’s going to kill whom."
"No one!" My voice ca out sharply and loudly. "No one’s going to do sothing like that." I looked at each of them firmly. "Everyone here... you’re all precious to . I’d never want anything like that to happen." My voice cracked on the last word, but I didn’t care. "Please... just don’t."
"Hey!" Emma patted my back. "No one’s doing anything, okay?" She took my hand and pulled away from the trio.
"Why did you drag out here? What if they actually fought?" I asked, glancing back over my shoulder. The tension in my chest hadn’t eased; I could still feel it clinging to .
"They’re not that stupid," she said, giving my back another pat. "So stop overthinking." Her tone was light, but I caught the way her eyes flicked toward them, like she wasn’t entirely sure either.
We walked a few steps in silence. Then Emma stopped, turning to face with a sudden smile. "Either way... let’s just enjoy for now."
****
Days went by, and we all enjoyed our ti at my new ho.
Emma was practically a permanent resident, spending her days sprawled on my couch, raiding my kitchen, and sotis even staying the night. Her own house was only a few steps away, but she liked mine better... and I too liked her being around .
Lucien would swing by every now and then, too, though Asher’s mood always soured the mont he showed up. The air between those two was still tense as always, but Lucien never seed to care. He ca when he wanted, left when he wanted, and always with that calm, unreadable expression.
I was happy, but life didn’t stop there... As our midterm exams were approaching.
Emma and I stayed up late studying, with books all around us and snack wrappers on the floor. The exams were tough, but we got through them, and for once, I wasn’t scared about the results.
In my past life, I hadn’t even made it this far. I’d never taken these exams, never sat in this classroom, never felt this strange sense of belonging. Back then, my days were spent surviving in the hell where I was trapped.
Now... things were different.
Emma was here.
Brother Asher was living with , his quiet presence felt grounding and protective.
Brother Alistair was buried in his projects, finally chasing his own life instead of putting my life above everything else.
However, we three siblings, along with Emma, would always et at dinner and breakfast, if nothing serious ca their way.
We would always enjoy our ti celebrating each other’s success.
Later, when the exams were over, we celebrated with ice cream at the corner shop, laughing over nothing. For the first ti in a long ti, I let myself believe that maybe this peace could last.
However, I was wrong.
The long-awaited birthday of Grandma was finally around the corner, and as the Young Miss of the Lancaster family, it was a must for to attend even if I didn’t want to.
Because, honestly, it hadn’t been a good experience for in the past.
I was dragged out of the ntal hospital and taken to the party like so kind of fool.
My heart was pounding, fear clinging to like a second skin. I kept making mistakes, stumbling over my own words, embarrassing myself in front of everyone.
After all, what would you expect from soone who had spent days locked away in a dark, wet room, completely alone, tortured so much that I couldn’t tell if I was alive or dead?
That was really a bad experience for .
That had been a really bad experience for .
"Sera!"
I was lost in my thoughts when Emma flicked her fingers in front of my face, pulling back to reality.
"Aren’t you excited? You’re going to see your grandmother! She was such a kind lady, at least from what I rember!" Emma’s eyes sparkled with excitent, but I stayed quiet.
I didn’t know how to explain what I was feeling.
"I... I don’t want to go," I muttered, but it was enough for Emma to hear.
"But why?" Her face twisted in shock, like she couldn’t believe I’d say that.
"I..." I opened my mouth but shut it instantly, before taking in a deep breath.
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